A34 Comet in 1:35

[Jakko]

Three months later …

It took so long because painting figures didn't want to work for me on several levels, so this week I gave in and took the easy way out: a base colour followed by drybrushed highlights and then a wash for the shadows (both for each base colour separately, not one-size-fits-all). That let me finish them in a couple of days — not the world's best paintwork, but better than not at all.

 

[Pantherman]

Three months later …

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It took so long because painting figures didn't want to work for me on several levels, so this week I gave in and took the easy way out: a base colour followed by drybrushed highlights and then a wash for the shadows (both for each base colour separately, not one-size-fits-all). That let me finish them in a couple of days — not the world's best paintwork, but better than not at all.

Looking fantastic. Great build. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

I think that worked out very well!
The riders, the shoulder patches, the commander concentrated on the road ahead and his radio conversation.

Would that equipment be for inboard conversation with the crew or a no°9 or no°11 or other radio?
I also always wonder at why there might be two or more antennas on tanks, especially?

 

[Jakko]

The standard radio for British tanks from about 1941 was the No. 19 set, and that's what would also have been in the Comet. This used two antennas because it was actually two sets in one: the 'A' set for short- to medium-distance communications, and the 'B' set for short range only (within the tank troop, or platoon for our American readers) on entirely different frequencies. In addition, it had an intercom channel for the crew to talk to each other.

The long antenna is for the 'A' set, so that makes the short one for the 'B' set The long antenna actually consisted of between one and four sections of 4 feet or 1.22 m long each (35 mm in 1:35), but when on the move, only one or two were supposed to be used, else the whole thing might break. The short antenna was 2 feet or 61 cm long (17.5 mm in 1:35).

Some trivia here is that the No. 19 set is why the Sherman tank has that extra little square bit on the sloping roof of the turret, behind the commander's cupola. American radio sets had only a single antenna, so the Sherman's designers included the round "pot" in the left rear corner of the turret as a base for that. The British, though, wanted a place to put the 'B' antenna of the No. 19 set, so that little square thing was added. Never used in US service, always in British and Commonwealth tanks.

 

[BarleyBop]

standard radio for British tanks from about 1941 was the No. 19 set,

good to know, have some in the stash I think!

 

[John Waller]

Great finish Jakko The Tamiya figure standard, as exemplified by the commander in the cupola, is so much better these days in every way.

 

[Jakko]

good to know, have some in the stash I think!

They look like this:

Great finish Jakko The Tamiya figure standard, as exemplified by the commander in the cupola, is so much better these days in every way.

Thanks The Tamiya figure's detail is pretty good, though not up to the standards of the ones in the North African Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G kit The Comet commander (and loader, who I didn't use) is a bit thin and small, and his tank suit isn't quite right. They have the details fine, but Tamiya's sculptor seems to think this is some thin overall that folds a lot. It's actually very heavy cloth, with a thinner lining of softer material:

That's a real one, manufactured in 1953 off the top of my head, that's in the collection of a museum I'm a volunteer for, so I've had the opportunity to examine it closely

 

[BarleyBop]

They look this

Great shot of it. Looks awfully familiar.

 

[BarleyBop]

Great shot of it. Looks awfully familiar.

Yup!

 

[Jakko]

Most likely all of them too modern for your Light Tank Mk. VI, I think, though. The set in the Wikipedia photo I posted has a protective cage over it, which was normal in armoured vehicles but not in other applications, AFAIK.

 

[BarleyBop]

The Interior kit that is no longer available had this, for placement in the bustle of the turret (long edge being the bottom). Odd shape... I may give it a try.

 

[Jakko]

Radio sets are not exactly my speciality, and that photo is somewhat far from great

A quick bit of research seems to indicate the Mk. VI tanks started off with No. 7 or No. 9 sets — I would guess your vehicle would have a No. 9? You can find photos of those easily enough by just searching for something like No. 9 wireless set.